Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-03-04
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.


This is an important question at
the Capital Just now. Non hear it
discussed on every side. As to the
probability and necessity for call
ed session of the two Houses or a
special session of the Senate, the
opinion of lawmakers differ widely.
Some say the backward state Of
the Appropriation bills, for which
the Democratic branch of Congress
is entirely to blame, make a called
session inevitable. Others say the
work will all be done and both
Houses will be ready to adjourn on
next Friday.
congressman never want an ex-
ira session, but the people of Wash
ington always do. 1t is to their in
terest for Congress to hang on as
long as possible, and they would
like for its sessions to be perennial.
The House is now working night
and day in order to get through
Hon. Mr.. Butterworth, Of Ohio,
who is much opposed to an extra
session, says the House is very
censurable for its delay of this
work. lie is a member of the pow
erful App priatiOns Committee of
the House, but he is a Republican
member, and of course in the min
ority on a vote. He was speaking
of the unfairness on the Tart of the
House in not giving the Senate
time to carefully consider these
bills, but said he "Thc only cues
ton involved is that of amount,
il IS not as if there was any
legislation connected with them.
The Senate can dispose Of them in
a very short time
There has been n perfect pot
p0nrri in the proceedings of Con-
gress during the past week, and
will be during the remaining few
DAYS. The calendars of both Houses
are exceedingly cumbersome, and
so much business of great impor.
lance demands attention that the
temptation to undue haste is ire
SiStible.
While the matter of appointments
and combinations is not in itself
sufficient to bring about an extra
session of the Senate, it contrib
utes to the influences which may
produce a called session. Opin-
ions respecting the Presidents
power to appoint the Interstate
Commerce Commissioners during a
recess of the Senate are widely
apart. The President thinks he
has the right to do so and Senator
Sherman agrees with him, as does
also tLe Attorney General, who
has rendered an opinion and cited
Attorney Generals Stanberry,
Evarts, Williams, and Devens as
precedents.
But Messrs. Edmunds, Harris,
Pugh, and other Senators of prom
inencc declare that the President
has no shadow of Constitutional
right to fill newly created office
when the Senate is not in session
to give its advice and consent
They hold that his power in the
matter Is limited to filing vacan-
cies temporarily which may happen
during the recess.
There is a good deal of specula-
ton as to what the President
will do with the bill recently passed
by both Houses of Congress making
a Department of Agriculture and
an addition to the Cabinet to be
called the Secretary OF Agriculture.
This bill has been pending in Con-
gress for years and was passed
once before by both branches, but
was vetoed by President Arthur
Agriculturists generally have petit
toned for its passage OF late and it
is thought Mr.. Cleveland will not
veto it for fear of imperiling his
political future.
1t has been Just thirty.eight years
since a Congress created a new
Executive Department. Our first
President began his administration
with "A Cabinet of three members, the
of State, Treasury and
War. At the beginning Of his sec
ond term, however, the Attorney
General was added to his official
household, and later the Navy De-
was organized. The Cab
met then consisted of five members
until 1929, when the Postmaster
General was added. Twenty years
later Congress organized the last
Department, that of the Interior,
and President Taylor made Thomas
Ewing, of Ohio, its first Secretary.
As soon as Mr.. CorcOran, the
venerable and widely known Wash
ington philanthropist, learned OF
the arrival of Mrs. Grant in this
city, he called to see her. She has
also been visited by all the en-
ployes of the White House who
were there during her residence
in it.
Mrs. Cleveland had grown lit
tie fatigued from the numerous Of
fetal hospitalities which always
crowd the last fortnight of the gay
season, and welcomed the quiet Of
Lent.
G,o1, mild loutiyifioo 40 Shall